My New Stereo Camera

[P3D Sam Smith <3dhacker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

After many delays and lots of sweat, I've finally got my new medium format
stereo camera to a presentable state. I call it the Stereo Pro, and it can
be seen at:

http://www.cadvision.com/3dhacker/index.htm

or a shortcut:

http://www.cadvision.com/3dhacker/stpro.htm

This project was one I had been hoping to do for a long time. Although
absolutely blown away by the concept of medium format stereo, I was never
able to obtain exactly the quality and features I really wanted. I've made
six attempts over the last 8 years to make the kind of camera I dreamt
about, and this time I think I'm on the right track!

First let me explain what I wanted in a stereo camera. Quality. After that,
a few added features would be nice. The problem with all commercially made
MF stereo cameras from 1895 up was that the lenses just weren't up to modern
standards as far as sharpness and contrast goes. Most of them couldn't use a
flash, haver a limited shutter speed range, and relied on looking through
the back window to advance the frames.

The Stereo Pro has fully coated optics. It currently uses Yashimars, but
eventually I will find two Yashinons that match. It has a synced copal
shutter with a full range of speeds to 1/500th, a centered viewing lens
between the main optics, and most convenient, a metered prism viewfinder.
The advance has been modified to automatically stop after a two frame
advance, and the flash works at all speeds.

This project didn't come cheap. I've gobbled up the parts from 5 TLRs to
make it, and I'm still looking for another for lenses. I've also got about
80 hours into it as well.

But my labors seemed to have paid off. My first rolls on the weekend show me
I have a little more adjusting on focus, and there seems to be a little
light leak. But the image sharpness was spectacular!

Now I'm looking for another Yashinon lens. If anyone out there has a Yashika
Mat kicking around they want to get rid of, I wanna talk!


Sam





------------------------------